New York has produced volumes of racing history, and one race stands alone. It’s the Carter Handicap, the only American stakes ever to have a triple dead heat for the win.
On June 10, 1944, Brownie, Bossuet and Wait a Bit hit the wire together at Aqueduct. Imagine the confusion and arguments as horse players sweated out the photo.
“I guarantee it was Brownie!”
“No way, Bossuet by a nostril!”
“Wait a Bit, without a doubt!”
For once, everybody was wrong and everybody was right.
On Saturday, the $300,000 Carter (G2) will be run for the 128th and final time at Aqueduct, which is closing for good on June 28. Among its distinguished winners are Hall of Famers Bold Ruler (1958), Forego (1974, 1975) and Housebuster (1991). This year’s marquee runner is the gelding Book’em Danno, an eight-time stakes winner, including three Grade 1s. One of his best performances was a nose loss to international superstar Forever Young going a mile in the 2024 Saudi Derby (G3).
The New Jersey-bred son of Bucchero swept his last three races last year, all at Saratoga – the True North (G3), the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2) and the Forego (G1). Trainer Derek Ryan thinks he’s primed for his best off an eight-month layoff.
“The break has done him a world of good,” the transplanted Irishman said. “He’s developed into a big horse, and he’s stronger. He’s doing better this year than he did last. They say their 5-year-old year is their best year, and I hope they’re right.”
The 7-furlong Carter is perfect for Book’em Danno, who has four wins, a second and a third at the distance. The only time he finished off the board going that far was when he was fourth, missing by a neck, in a four-horse photo last year in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on Derby weekend. He’s 10-for-16 lifetime and worse than fourth just once -- fifth in the 2024 Cigar Mile (G2).
Book’em Danno has been sharpened at Tampa Bay Downs, with 5-furlong bullet workouts of 1:01 and 1:00. None of his five opponents is in his class, and he’ll be very tough to beat.
For those who like to bet on racing, here’s a horse-by-horse analysis of the Carter field from the rail out, with jockey, trainer and odds in parentheses:
Speedy Maryland shipper is training well and probably will go for the lead from the rail. He’s 2-for-2 at the distance but never has faced a horse as accomplished as Book’em Danno.
Contrarians will point out that he’s 0-for-3 off layoffs of less than a month, but the horses who beat him were much better than his five opponents Saturday. Except for Be You, they’re frontrunning types, which will aid Book’em Danno’s stalking style. Expect him to pounce in upper stretch.
He’s lost seven of his last eight races, including 0-for-4 in stakes. His speed figures don’t measure up, and he’s 0-for-2 in graded stakes.
Course-and-distance winner has a solid finishing kick and should benefit from the pace flow. Likes 7 furlongs but doesn’t class up – winless in last three graded events. Might be able to pass tiring pacesetters and run second or third.
He’s never done anything wrong – 5-for-5 lifetime by a combined 26 lengths. Has been rested since October, when he came off an 11-month layoff to go wire to wire in a restricted stakes. Strong early- and late-pace figures but need-to-lead type may be compromised by speed-heavy field.
Classy Maryland shipper ran a close second as the 2-1 favorite in last year’s Carter. Also just missed against multiple-stakes winner Bishops Bay in a Grade 3. (Cross-entered in Frank Whiteley Stakes at Laurel and reportedly will run there)
Ed McNamara is an award-winning racing writer who has covered the sport since 1981 for The Bergen (N.J.) Record, Newsday, ESPN, Thorocap, and USRacing. He is the author of Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown and Racing Around the World, and a contributor to The Most Glorious Crown and The Racetracks of America. He has also written for racing publications in France and Italy.
